Muve Music Wireless Service Securied With Flash Memory From SanDisk

MicroSDHC memory card from SanDisk can be used to enhance mobile phone secure connection for Muve Music

SanDisk has announced a secure, card-based media solution with network-connected memory to support Cricket's new unlimited Muve Music wireless service. SanDisk's technology will allow consumers on the Cricket 3G network to enjoy premium digital content on their mobile phones without the need for a computer to download music.

Muve Music includes unlimited talk, text and Web plus unlimited music downloads, ringtones and ringback tones. Muve Music content is downloaded DRM-free over Cricket's 3G network to the phone. The content is stored and protected on the SanDisk flash memory card. By alleviating the need for any digital rights management scheme (DRM), handset performance and battery life can be improved, resulting in a high-quality mobile experience.

"With the help of SanDisk, we have created an innovative new way to protect digital content without the use of DRM," said Jeff Toig, vice president and general manager, voice and data products, Cricket. "This solution enables a superior overall experience for Muve Music customers. They will have immediate and easy access to all the music they love while the music industry has the confidence it needs in a secure mobile music solution."

"Cricket is a leading-edge mobile network service provider that knows how to deliver value and innovation to its customers," said Daniel Schreiber, senior vice president, software and solutions, SanDisk. "The use of our advanced technology to secure the Muve Music service is one of those ways. We help Cricket deliver a great quality of service and a premium experience, and we are pleased to serve as a value-added solutions provider to Cricket."

The Cricket Muve Music service will be available in January 2011 and initially on the Samsung Suede mobile phone.

When consumers download music from the Muve Music service over Cricket's nationwide 3G network to the card without the need of a computer, the SanDisk card's built-in security technology immediately and automatically encrypts the content. SanDisk's intelligent security technology allows conditional access to music content by regulating the network connection through the card, where music files are encrypted and stored. Using SanDisk's technology, Cricket is able to provide a secure hosting environment with controlled access to the content based on the current status of a customer's service plan â€” a reliable solution that is ideal for pre-paid services.

SanDisk's security technology recognizes the authentication credentials assigned to each service subscriber. The technology acts as a key that grants access to the Cricket-controlled partition on the microSDHC card where music can be downloaded from the Cricket Muve Music service in the cloud and then stored remotely to the card. The card secures content by verifying the user's account status before granting them access to the service.